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Bodega Enrique Mendoza ‘Estrecho’ 2004
I went to a very interesting tasting yesterday, had a couple of very good wines and some top tier ports. So I'm all fired up today, not that it takes much. As a side note, I should have a couple of Spanish wines under screwcap to review in a couple of weeks, along side their cork closed brothers. Old news for us Aussies, but not for the Spanish.
Anyway, this is clearly the benchmark Monastrell. A big call as we only have a dozen or so wines available in Australia, but there you go. High altitude, old vines, careful oak treatment and smart winemaking all add up to a top end wine. I'd like to try this against some the top end French mourvedre based wines, I think the quality here would shine though.
A nice cherry red at the edge of the glass, a bit darker towards the centre. An expressive and rich nose of cherry, mulberry, anise/clove, pepper, a bit of toasty wood and musk that is really enticing. The approach is very burgundian, elegant, smooth and supple with attention to detail in all the right places. Foggy, smooth tannins, great balance and just the right level of acid. Tart cherry, mulberry and plum with sage and minerals. Very long finish. Excellent stuff. 95 Pts.
Source: The Spanish Acquisition Price: $65 Closure: Conventional Cork
Other vintages: 2003
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I liked the structure, very perfumed and oaky, but found the tannins a bit hard. It is very young though and needs 4 to 7 years I’d think. Better than the Trapio, but not by a huge amount - and it’s less approachable now. I preferred the Tempier Bandols I tried against it, though they had another year in age.
Think the price may be more than that.
I was with you until I got to hard tannins. I found them quite smooth and gentle. And really drinkable. I did decant for quite some time tho…